Ex-servicemen begin hunger-strike to press for the demand of OROP

Thousands of ex-servicemen across the country on Monday began their relay-hunger strike demanding that the government announce a date for the introduction of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme.

In Delhi, a group of 55 ex-servicemen from Jalandhar district sat on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Earlier on Sunday, hundreds of ex-servicemen and war veterans protested at the Jantar Mantar and sought the intervention of President Pranab Mukherjee regarding the entire issue.

“The hunger strike has begun today in various cities. This will go on indefinitely till our dues are cleared,” said Col. (retd) Anil Kaul, media Advisor to Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).

Addressing a gathering on Sunday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had assurance that the “promises” made would be kept and the retired servicemen should be “patient”.

One of the key promises made during Narendra Modi’s pre-election campaign was the implementation of the “One Rank, One Pension Scheme”. PM Modi had stated that his government was committed to OROP, and had reiterated the same during his Mann Ki Baat address few weeks back. PM also requested the veterans to be patient. The veterans on the other hand have demanded that the government must speed up the entire process and the scheme should be implemented at the earliest but the government has not yet given a specific time frame or date.